Rotary fuel distributing valve



' Aug. 17, 194 NIES 2,447,423

ROTARY FUEL DISTRIBU'fING VALVE Filed Feb; 27, 1945 INVENTOR.

1977' OIPNEK Patented Aug 17, 1948 UNITED STATE aoraar rum.

DISTRIBUTING VALVE s PATENT OFFICE,

. George L. Nies, Ephrata, Pa. Application February 27, 1945, Serial No. 579,953 2 Claims. (01. 137-146) disassemble for cleaning and .renewaL'and yet highly efficient in its functioning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve structure of this kind in which a single part rotating at the same speed as the crankshaft of the engine with which it is associated jfeeds to every engine cylinder, with every rotation of the crank shaft, equal quantities of fuel during any speed and under any load at which the engine may be operated.

The valve structure is adapted for use with prime movers of the Diesel and other types in which fuel is forced under pressure to the engine cylinders, the speed of the pump determining the amount and compression of fuel suppl'ed to the 'valve structure and thus the quantity of fuel delivered to the cylinders in any circumstances of speed, engine load, and other factors.

Moreover, the valve structure also is capable of correspondingly functioning in association with intemal-combustion engines into the cylinders of which the fuel, is drawn by suction and electrically ignited.

. With either type of engine, the valve structure has only one moving part, which rotates continuously while the engine i operating. This part, being essentially one that rotates continuously in one direction and does not reciprocate or oscillate, does not require cam-actuated rods, and is free of discs, springs, and other parts such as needed for pop-valves and other reciprocating charge controlling elements. Moreover, the feeding of fuel to the engine cylinders is with uniform flow and is continuous at the moments every valve-port is open, and no flow control by a series of measuring drums or other auxiliary is .required.

Further, when an engine of a certain number of cylinders requires a valve structure of thisinvention and the only one then'available is for an engine of a greater number of cylinders, the valve structure easily can be adapted to the lesser number. a

When considered with the description herein, characteristics of the invention are apparent in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, wherein an adaptation in association with a six- 2 cylinder engine is disclosed for plification.

Like reference characters refer to correspond ing parts in the views of the drawing, which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal axial section, parts of the engine cylinders being shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a flattened plan view of the rotor indicating positions of the ports thereof.

The valve structure includes a casing I, which usually is cylindrical outside, and the inner sur face of the wall of which is circular and machined smooth to uniform diameter from'end to end. The casing has a plurality of equally spaced exit passages 5 in its wall leading from the inside to the outside thereof. The inner ends of the passages preferably are disposed in a straight line parallel to the axis of the chamber. Thecasing is held against rotation in any suitable manner, as by supporting elements 6.

, A rotor 1 turns inside of the casing. It comprises a hollow cylinder 8, which is machined smooth on the outside and is of exterior circumference to give it a tight running fit against the inner surface of the casing, The cylinder contains a fuel chamber. The cylnder is closed at one end by a plug 9 tightly fitted into it and extendingoutside thereof. The plug has an annular exterior flange Ill, which is welded to the end of the cylinder 8 and is of the same circumference as the inside of the casing t in which it turns. A drive element, such as a gear wheel i l, is fast on the exterior portion of the plug.

A wall 12' closes the cylinder 8 at its other end. An annular flange ill on that end of the cylinder runs against the end of the casing t. a

A fuel supply pipe I4, which is held fixed against rotation in any suitable manner, extends through the wall l2 in the axis of the cylinder. That wall is recessed outside, and packing It in the recess around the pipe is compressed by a gland it, which is held on the end of the cylinder by bolts l1.

The rotor turns in bearings i8 on one end thereof and on the plug, the bearings being held at the peri hery of the cylinder in such places purpose of exemwith the exit passages one at a time and successively between equal intervals of port closure by the rotor as it turns.

This may be attained'by placing the port ends in a straight line disposed at an angle to the axis of the rotor; for example, in an angle such as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. However, the peripheral ends of the ports may be arranged in any other suitable manner, that is they may be spaced both circumferentially and longitudinally of the rotor so that only one of them at a time will become aligned with a casing passage and the intervals between successive alignments and passage offuel into the exit passages is uniform.

Moreover, although the passages I are referred to as being equally spaced and disposed in the wall of the casing in a straight line and the cylinder ports as being correspondingly disposed, it is within the concept of this invention to employ diflerent arrangements. The criterion is that one arrangement of either the passages or ports having been established, the arrangement of the others must be in consonance therewith to give sequential registry of them at proper times.

ders. Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically association of my valve structure with a six-cylinder engine, whose cylinders are designated by 2 I, and

the connections thereof with the passages by lines 22.

It is to be understood that the valve structure is adaptable for association with engines of more or less numbers of cylinders by forming th casing and cylinder, respectively, with the number of exit passages and ports required. Moreover, if my valve structure has more passages and ports than required for a particular engine, the excess may be plugged or otherwise rendered inoperative.

The fuel comes into the cylinder 1 through the supply pipe 14. The cylinder is rotated, by suitable drive means, at the same speed as the engine 4 in communication with cylinders of an engine, an elongated hollow fuel-chamber-containing rotor in and having tight running fit with the cylindrical surface of said casing, a rotatable plug tightly fitted into and closing one end of said rotor, an annular flange on said plug having tight running fit at its periphery with the inner surface of said casing, a wall closing the other end of said rotor, an annular flange on that end of said rotor having tight running fit with the corresponding end or said casing, a fuel supply pipe extending axially through said wall, and

means associated with said plug to rotate said rotor, said rotor having spaced ports in its periphery positioned to align successively with the exit passages of said casing during continuous rotation of the rotor.

crank shaft. Fuel leaves through the casing passages at proper time successively to the cylinders of the engine in quantities required by the engine.

I claim: 1. A valve structure of the kind and for the purpose described comprising an elongated fixed casing with a smooth inner cylindrical surface and having spaced exit passages extending from its interior to the exterior and capable of being said casing, a wall closing the other end of said rotor, an annular flange on that end of said rotor having tight running fit with the corresponding end or said casing, hearings in which said rotor turns one being on said plug and another on said rotor at its other end, means associated with said plug to rotate said rotor, and a fuel supply pipe extending axially through the closing wall of said rotor, said rotor having spaced ports extending from its chamber to its periphery positioned to align successively with the exit passages of said casing during continuous rotation of the rotor.

GEORGE L.- NIES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 825,370 Zurbuch' July' 10, 1906 1,143,409 Kyle June 15, 1915 2,361,399 High Oct. 31, 1944 

